Extend Your Network With These 7 Routers
Even if you have internet service from the best ISP, you may experience dropped connections or slow speed, especially if you’re far from the router. If you haven’t upgraded your router in a while, getting a new one may help you extend your network and improve connection stability. Newer routers are better equipped to handle faster internet speeds. Moreover, buying a router may be more cost-effective than leasing one from your ISP. Read on to learn about the top seven routers to help you extend your network.
Asus RT-AX86U
The Asus RT-AX86U offers everything you expect from a top Wi-Fi router: reliable connectivity, malware protection, fast speed, and easy setup. This Wi-Fi router is best for home users and gamers who want to extend their high-speed internet network. The WAN/LAN port offers speeds of up to 2 Gbps, enough to support even the fastest fiber internet plans. It also provides link aggregation, which allows you to bundle multiple network connections into one logical link.
The midrange price point means it’s not a budget-friendly option, but it still offers outstanding value with excellent performance, sleek design, and plenty of customization settings. The file transfer performance isn’t the best and the design allows for only vertical mounting, but, despite these minor drawbacks, the Asus RT-AX86U is a solid performer.
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500
The Nighthawk RAXE500 is the Wi-Fi router by Netgear for range. It’s loaded with features including link aggregation, multi-gig WAN/LAN, and speedy throughput performance and file transfer speeds. It’s one of only a few routers that offers 6 GHz connectivity, which means you get increased streams to enjoy less network congestion and signal interference.
The router’s design is unique and futuristic, with a glossy black finish and wing-shaped antennae. A couple downsides: the price is quite high and you’ll have to get a paid subscription to use the router’s security software.
Reyee RG-E5
The Reyee RG-E5 is a reasonably priced Wi-Fi router with wide-ranging wireless coverage. Reyee is a new networking brand, but it has quickly gained a reputation for offering routers that deliver strong signal performance. The RG-E5 is the brand’s flagship router. With its silver-and-black finish and blue LED lights, the Reyee RG-E5 has an attractive and eye-catching design.
It isn’t surprising that the router doesn’t offer USB connectivity or link aggregation at this price point, but there are plenty of other connectivity options, including 1 Gbps WAN/LAN ports. The maximum speed on the 5 GHz band is rated at 2.4 Gbps. The Reyee RG-EG won’t be pushing any performance boundaries, but it’s a solid performer for the price.
TP-Link Archer AX50
The TP-Link Archer AX50 offers a long range, low network lag, and impressive speed at a moderate price. The Wi-Fi router also has parental controls, link aggregation, solid signal strength, and lifetime malware protection — features you mostly find in high-end Wi-Fi routers.
Connectivity options include a USB 3.0 port and WAN/LAN ports. It offers a maximum speed of 3 Gbps. For configuration, you can use the easy-to-navigate TP-Link Tether mobile app or the web console, which provides a few more advanced settings, such as Firewall and NAT forwarding. Unfortunately, there is no WPA3 encryption and the file transfer performance is just adequate. Nevertheless, the Archer AX50 is an excellent router.
Linksys MR9600
The MR9600 is one of the best Wi-Fi routers from Linksys. It offers solid file-transfer speeds, quick speed on the 5 GHz frequency, and an excellent mobile app that makes it easy to configure and control the router from your phone. You can also use the router to create a mesh network, which is most beneficial for larger spaces.
The MR9600 has all four gigabit LAN ports, two USB 3.0 ports, and a WAN port, but it lacks link-aggregation capabilities. A unique feature is that it supports a maximum speed of 6 Gbps, ideal for sharing large files across the network. The Linksys MR9600 offers an excellent range, but there are a few ways to extend your Wi-Fi network further.
Linksys Hydra Pro 6
You would expect a router named Hydra Pro 6 to feature a flashy design, but this router prefers simplicity. It offers several excellent features, including 5 Gbps speed, Wi-Fi 6 support, and an easy-to-use interface for setup.
The router’s range is impressive, so it would do well in a large ranch house or vertical townhome. Users can also tap into its 160 MHz data channels, which can be used as part of a mesh system. The impressive reliability and speeds make the Linksys Hydra Pro 6 Wi-Fi router a compelling choice, although the price tag is a bit steep.
TP-Link Archer AX11000
If you’re ready to spend more on a quality router, you can get the TP-Link Archer AX11000, which offers outstanding performance. You get real-time latency and resource utilization visibility to optimize your network for the best performance. The Archer AX110000 also delivers blazing-fast file transfer times, a lifetime anti-malware subscription, and excellent throughput.
The router has specialized gaming controls, such as game diagnostics and smart game assistant, but the AX11000 is an all-purpose Wi-Fi router. The maximum speed rating is 4.8 Gbps. The only negative about the router is its bulky size.
You won’t have to worry about reliability issues with this high-end router, but even the best routers can have problems. You can learn more about troubleshooting home Wi-Fi and router problems so you won’t need technical support to fix minor issues.